Life Science Industry Update: June 2017

At LSC we specialise only in Life Sciences and always keep up to date with leading news, projects and all that’s going on in the industry. As the sector sees continued rapid growth it’s easy to miss some of the major announcements. To make things easier and to ensure you too are well informed we’ve selected and summarized this month’s top Irish Life Science news stories below.

Life Science News June 2017

FDA approves BioMarin’s bulk Biologics manufacturing plant in Cork

The FDA has approved BioMarin Pharmaceutical’s bulk Biologics manufacturing plant, located in Shanbally, Cork for production of the formulated bulk substance (GALNS) used in the production of Biomarin’s marketed drug Vimizim. This follows hot on the heels of the HPRA approval of the 200,000 sq ft facility on behalf of the EMA (European Medicines Agency) in Q1 2017. BioMarin have invested significant resources and effort to get the Shanballly facility to this approval stage, following their 2011 acquisition of the site and buildings from Pfizer. Read More >>

200 new jobs will be created in Cork and 120 in Carlow as a result of increased global demand for MSD’s medicines and vaccines produced in Ireland. The investment will see both sites expand production facilities and capacity. Read More >>

Construction to start on new Production Facility at Takeda in Grange Castle

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited held a groundbreaking ceremony earlier this month to mark the beginning of their €40million investment in a new standalone, high containment production facility at the existing Grange Castle site in Dublin. They expect project completion in 12 months, with secondary packaging of product by late 2018. The new production facility will be unique in that it will house the Drug Substance, Drug Product, Primary and Secondary Packaging and QC processes all under one roof. Read More >>

Boston Scientific to invest €17m at Galway Facility

Boston Scientific has launched it’s new RoadRunner endoscopy design facility in Galway, which will include a €17m investment by 2020. The facility will host more than 300 international physicians every year to promote the development of metal stents for various applications. This investment is being made in Galway due to the quick response track record of the teams and it is expected this will reduce the time it takes to develop a medical device to just six months. “Through the RoadRunner facility engineers will gather real time feedback from international clinicians which will significantly improve the process for a device to make it’s transition from bench to bedside” Read More >>

BMS to sell Swords Manufacturing Facility to South Korean company SK Biotek

An agreement has been reached between Bristol-Myers Squib and SK Biotek to sell it’s small molecule API manufacturing facility in Swords, Dublin. SK Biotek is the first Korean company to invest in pharmaceutical manufacturing in Ireland and anticipates further investment by adding R&D, marketing and additional manufacturing capabilities. BMS will now shift its focus to the Cruiserath biologics facility. Read More >>

Abbott and IDA Ireland announce investment of €10 million to fund site relocation within Sligo for Abbott’s local Nutritional Devices business

Global healthcare company Abbott will relocate it’s Irish Nutritional Devices business from it’s existing base at Ballytivnan, Sligo, to a new, purpose-built IDA Ireland Advance Technology building located in the Finisklin industrial estate. The move will enable the consolidation of manufacturing and business support within one building and the creation of a medical nutrition device centre of excellence. There is also room for additional expansion at the Finisklin site. Read More >>

The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) and GE Healthcare have teamed up to deliver a new single-use-technology training center in Dublin by Autumn 2017, with an annual capacity of up to 1,500 professionals. The NIBRT-GE Single-Use Centre of Excellence features the latest technologies that will further boost Bio-manufacturing skills and expertise in Ireland, Europe and globally. GE Healthcare single use technology will form a central part of the Bio-manufacturing processes at the new GE-Bio-Park in Cork. Read More >>

GSK invest €8M at Dungarvan facility

GSK have invested €8 million in a new Biomass energy unit at it’s manufacturing site in Dungarvan, Waterford to reduce the company’s carbon output. The purpose-built Biomass energy facility is expected to reduce the site’s carbon emissions by up to 33%. The facility uses locally sourced woodchips instead of oil to create a carbon neutral fuel source for the site. This investment is part of GSK’s global sustainability strategy which aims to make the company carbon neutral by 2050. Read More >>

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